A study of the lives of popular theater artists; Stigmas of the Tamil Stage is the first in-depth analysis of Special Drama; a genre of performance unique to the southernmost Indian state of Tamilnadu. Held in towns and villages throughout the region; Special Drama performances last from 10 p.m. until dawn. There are no theatrical troupes in Special Drama; individual artists are contracted ldquo;speciallyrdquo; for each event. The first two hours of each performance are filled with the kind of bawdy; improvisational comedy that is the primary focus of this study; the remaining hours present more markedly staid dramatic treatments of myth and history. Special Drama artists themselves are of all ages; castes; and ethnic and religious affiliations; the one common denominator in their lives is their lower-class status. Artists regularly speak of how poverty compelled their entrance into the field.Special Drama is looked down upon by the middle- and upper-classes as too popular; too vulgar; and too ldquo;mixed.rdquo; The artists are stigmatized: people insult them in public and landlords refuse to rent to them. Stigma falls most heavily; however; on actresses; who are marked as ldquo;public womenrdquo; by their participation in Special Drama. As Susan Seizerrsquo;s sensitive study shows; one of the primary ways the performers deal with such stigma is through humor and linguistic play. Their comedic performances in particular directly address questions of class; culture; and gender deviationsmdash;the very issues that so stigmatize them. Seizer draws on extensive interviews with performers; sponsors; audience members; and drama agents as well as on careful readings of live Special Drama performances in considering the complexities of performersrsquo; lives both on stage and off.
#2927119 in eBooks 2002-02-25 2002-02-25File Name: B00EF0R7R0
Review
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful. A Thoroughly Entertaining and Ribbald ComedyBy Ralph WhiteThis ribbald comedy was written three hundred years ago and it remains fresh and funny. It is populated by such characters as the gentlemen of broken fortunes; Aimwell and Archer; a country blockhead; Sullen; who despises his perfectly delightful wife; highwaymen named Gibbet and Bagshot; a servant named Scrub; a country gentlewoman named Lady Bountiful; and an inkeepers beautiful daughter; Cherry. You start smiling while still reading the Cast of Characters. The language is a delight; as when Mrs. Sullen cautions her husbands servant; while hes shaving her husbands head; "Have a care of coming near his temples; Scrub; for fear you meet something there that may turn the edge of your razor...inveterate stupidity." Lady Sullen ups the stakes when she determines that "one way to rouse my lethargic; sottish husband is to give him a rival. Security begets negligence in all people; and men must be alarmed to make em alert in their duty." When Squire Sullen catches wind of the plot; his response is embarrassment: "Dont think my anger proceeds from any concern I have of your honor; but for my own; and if you can contrive any way of being a whore without making me a cuckhold; do it and welcome." To which his wife responds; "Sir; I thank you kindly; you would allow me the sin but rob me of the pleasure."This is a forward-thinking play for womens rights; too. Mrs. Sullen puts the womans situation in perspective: "Were I born an humble Turk; where women have no soul nor property; there I must sit contented. But in England; a country whose women are its glory; must women be abused? Where women rule [a reference to the queen]; must women be enslaved?" The plot considerably thickens when the broken gentleman who volunteers to rob Mrs. Sullen falls in love with her.In the end we learn from the one upstanding character; Sir Charles; that "Truth; sir; is a profound sea; and few there be that dare wade deep enough to find out the bottom ont."Hats off to Michael Kahn; Artistic Director of The Shakespeare Theater; in Washington; DC; for dusting off this play for our generation.4 of 6 people found the following review helpful. The Beaux StrategemBy Timothy Lee FullerThis version turned out to be very small with a very small type-set. However; I was more disappointed about the fact that the binding gave out about halfway through and most of the pages were loose by the time I had finished reading it ONCE. It is now bound by a rubber band.